Chair construction



2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYaS.

Nov. 4, 1941.

J. B. O CONNOR CHAIR CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Oct. 21, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J i I I INVENTOR;

ATTORNEY5.

Patented Nov. 4, 1941 CHAIR CONSTRUCTION John B. OConnor, Aurora,

Metal Products, Incorporated, Aurora,

corporation of Illinois 111., assignor to Lyon 111., a

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved construction for chairs, more particularly chairs of the metal frame folding type.

It is an object of the invention to provide a metal folding chair which is rugged, comfortable, easy to manipulate from and inexpensive to manufacture and fabricate.

More specifically it is an object of the invention to provide in a chair having a collapsible frame an improved folding mechanism which is easily operable and silent in operation, and which will not stick or inadvertently lock the chair in open position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein certain preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the invention showing the chair in open position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the chair in closed position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a partial perspective showing the method of connecting the rear support frame to the main frame of the chair.

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail showing the means for pivotally securing the seat to the main frame.

Figs. '7 and 8 are details showing the foot construction, and

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are views illustrating the method of making the chair seat.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 170,256, filed October 21, 1937.

Referring now to the drawings, particularly Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it will be seen that the chair in general comprises a main frame formed from a metal channel bar l bent into U-shape, and braced at its lower end by a cross brace H. A pair of channel bars l2 and l3 connected by a cross brace M are pivotally secured at their upper ends to the channel l0, and together form View along the line 3-3 a rear support frame for the chair. A sheet metal back I is secured to the U-channel H1 at the upper end thereof, and a metal seat I5 is pivotally secured to the frame by the pivots l1.

Each rear corner of the seat is provided with a.

projection l8 carrying a cylindrical lug l9 formopen to closed position,

ing a bearing device slidable within its associated rear channel bar, and each of the channel bars carries a stop 20 for limiting the upward movement of its associated lug." The lower ends of the channel bars l0, l2 and I3 carry rubber feet 2| affording a firm and solid support construction.

By virtue of the foregoing construction it will be seen that the chair'is of the folding type and may be readily manipulated from its open or seating position,as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, to its closed position, as shown in Fig. 2, for storage purposes. This operation may be readily effected by grasping the chair back and front of the seat and rotating the seat clockwise with respect to the frame about the pivots I1. During this operation the rear support frame comprising the channels l2 and I3 will be moved into substantial engagement with the main frame channel It), and the seat will be simultaneously brought into the plane of the main frame whereby to collapse the'chair construction into the position illustrated in Fig. 2. When it is desired to again open the chair to seating position,-the seat is pivoted counter-clockwise with respect to the frame, bringing the parts into the positionillustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. During this operation thestops 20 limit the upward movement of the rear of the seat, thus holding the seat during .use in firm substantially horizontal position and againstcollapse.

The details of construction by which the foregoing parts are preferably secured together-will be best understood by reference to Figs. 4 to 8 inclusive of the drawings. Fig. .4 illustrates the means for securing the main frame channel 10 to the rear support channels, in this instance illustrated as the channel membe l3. The channel l0 carries arearwardly projecting bracket 25 to which the rear channel is pivotally secured by means of the pivot pin 26. The bracket 25 may be secured to the channel ID by riveting, as illustrated, or by welding or by bolts'or in any other desired manner.

The means for pivotally securing the seat to the frame is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. As

shown, the channel [0 carries a bracket 21, the channel and the bracket forming a supportfor the pivot bolt l1 upon which the seat I6 is pivotally mounted. A nut 28 holds the parts against separation. Fig. 5 also illustrates the means for mounting the cylindrical lugs carried at the rear of the seat for sliding movement within the rear channel members. Each lug has a central aperture formed therein into which is fixed a pl g 01 wick 29. This wick, which is preferably of rawhide or some similar material, is fitted tightly into the lug I9, and the end of the wick projects beyond the lug forming a sliding bearing against the channel member. The wick may be oiled, if desired, to insure ease of operation during its sliding movements along the channel.

The preferable means for securing the rubber feet 2| to the lower ends of the channel members is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. As shown, the vertically projecting portion 30 of the foot is clamped within the channel by means of a bolt 3| and a cooperating metal clip member 32.

The method of forming the seat l6 for the chair is illustrated in Figs. 9, 10 and 11. The seat frame is composed of a pair of side members 52 carrying the cylindrical lugs member 53. The completed seat is formed by applying a sheet metal piece 54 of suitable size and shape, as illustrated in Fig. 9, to the seatframe. The sheet metal member 54 is formed by stamping or the like into the shape shown in Fig. 11 and secured to the frame members 52 by welding or any other suitable means. The metal seat I6 is a complete seat for the chair and may be used with or without a covering or upholstery member. The covering member, if provided, may be secured to the seat by means of the holes 31. The upper surface of the seat is of somewhat S-shape rendering it very comfortable as a seat support.

The cross brace 53, together with the side members 52 and the marginal flanges 55 and the S- shaping of the seat make the seat assembly very rigid and substantial. It is to be understood that the sheet metal piece ness, and due to its shaping which affords cantilever action, forms a very strong seat support.

The chair back member I5 is preferably of sheet metal, stamped to conform to the body of the user. It is provided with a rolled portion 43 which forms a strengthening and finishing flange for its lower edge, and it may be secured to the frame I 0 by means of bolts 44. The back may be upholstered, or otherwise covered, if desired.

The foregoing construction provides an all metal folding chair construction which is rug ed and durable, and which may be readily fabricated of a minimum number of parts. When in open seating position the chair forms a firm and solid chair support, but at any time it manipulated into folded position for storage. The folding mechanism is of improved and simplified construction. Weight, which may be placed upon the seat of the chair in use, has: no tendency to lock the chair in open position after the weight has been removed. The lugs [9 may be readily separated from the stops 20 and slid downwardly along the rear channel members to effect the folding operation, and the wicks 29 bearing against the channels provide an efiicient sliding joint insuring quietness and ease of operation. There is no tendency for the cylindrical lugs l9 to lock or bind in the channels.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention set forth for purposes of illustration, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly the invention is not to the precise embodiment only as indicated in the shown and described, but following claims.

54 is of substantial thickmay be readily d be limited in any way to I9, secured to a cross brace The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A portable chair of the folding type comprising a first metallic frame section, a second metallic frame section pivotally connected to said first frame section, a seat pivotally connected to the first frame section, said seat having metallic bearing members intereng ageable with surfaces comprising guide means on said second frame section for slidable movement longitudinally thereof as the seat is pivoted on said first frame section, and non-metallic bearing elements mounted on said bearing members and engageable against a portion of a further guide surface of the second frame section whereby a nonmetallic bearing contact is maintained between said bearing elements and the second frame section as the seat is pivoted.

2. A portable folding chair as defined in claim 1 wherein said second frame section comprises elongated channel members and wherein said nonmetallic bearing elements are disposed on the extremities of said bearing members opposite the central flange of the channel member.

3. A portable chair of the folding type comprising a first frame section, a second frame sec tion pivotally connected to said first frame section, a seat pivotally connected to the first frame section, said secondframe section comprising a pair of elongated channel members and said seat having bearing members slidable within the channel members of the second frame section as the seat is pivoted on the first frame section, and. stop means interposed within said channels and extending between the side flanges of the channels and comprising flange portions, and attachment portions extending longitudinally of the channels, and engageable by the seat bearing members as the seat is pivoted to operative seating position.

4. A portable folding chair as defined in claim 3 wherein said stop means comprises a bracket member fixed to said pivot connection between said first and second frame sections provided at a spaced point with an abutment flange disposed internally of the channel and extending substantially between the marginal side flanges of the channel. 1

5. A portable chair of the folding type comprising a first frame section, a second frame section pivotally connected to said first frame section, a seat pivotally connected to the first frame section, said second frame section comprising a pair of elongated channel members and said seat having bearing members slidable within the channel members of the second frame section as the seat is pivoted on the first frame section, and stop means disposed within said channels comprising attachment portions extending longitudinally of the channels, and abutment portions extending transversely of the channels between the side flanges thereof and engageable by the seat bearing members as the seat is pivoted to operative seating position.

6. A portable folding chair as defined in claim 5 wherein said bearing members have an arcuate surface and wherein said abutment portions are arcuate in form to complementarily receive said bearing members.

JOHN B. OCONNOR. 

